She & Him at Comerica Theatre, 6/18/13

She & Him at Comerica Theatre, 6/18/13

Hear about She & Him at blog or magazine distance and your impression of them is dominated by the simple presence of Zooey Deschanel's name. Get a little closer, within range of one of their albums, and your impression of them is dominated by their sound -- thick and vintage and further away from twee pop than you probably expected, sounding like nothing so much as Roy Orbison circa Jeff Lynne and the Traveling Wilburys.

At Comerica Theatre on Tuesday, neither impression held true. Live, She & Him are neither an actress's side project nor an uncanny imitation of retro torch-pop. They're just an exceptionally tight band playing great songs.

Hear about She & Him at blog or magazine distance and your impression of them is dominated by the simple presence of Zooey Deschanel's name. Get a little closer, within range of one of their albums, and your impression of them is dominated by their sound -- thick and vintage and further away from twee pop than you probably expected, sounding like nothing so much as Roy Orbison circa Jeff Lynne and the Traveling Wilburys.

At Comerica Theatre on Tuesday, neither impression held true. Live, She & Him are neither an actress's side project nor an uncanny imitation of retro torch-pop. They're just an exceptionally tight band playing great songs.